Timing and ignition system



Dec. 19, 1922.

2 SHEET$SHEE1 I.

bvrqrup-rfk h ZZz'am Pfiramier W. P. BREWSTER.

mama AND IGNITION SYSTEM.

HLEI) AUG.9. I921.

Dec. 19, 1922. 1,439,537.

W. P. BREWSTER.

TIMING AND IGNITION SYSTEM.

min AUG-9'. I921- 2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

45' fi/a u rams/an Patented Dec. 19, 1922.

more!) STATES PATENT OFFIfiE.

WILLIAM P. BREWSTER, OF ST. LOUIS. MISSOURI. ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOBENJAMIN A. \VILKES, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

TIMING AND IGNITION SYSTEI'iI.

Application filed August 9, 1921. Serial No. 490,991.

To (12/ whom it may concern Be it lqnown that I, lVrLLIAM l. BREW'STER,a citizen of the United States, residing at city of St. Louis, State ofMissouri, have invented a certain new and useful improvement in ilimingand Ignition Systems, oi which the following is a full clear, and exactdescription. such as will enable others skilled in the art to Which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention relates to a timing and ignition system for internalcombustion engines and the objects of my invention are to provide acombined timing; and ignition system which is simple and ellicient inoperation and may be advantageously used with internal combustionengines thercbv eliininat ing the complicated and expensive tiu1- inc;mechanism now used in couiunction with ignition systems.

Further objects oil my inrcntion are to provide a combined timing andignition system in which the timing of the spark used to infinite thecompressed charge of combustible gases in the combustion chamber isaccomplished by the movement of the piston in said wombuetion chanil cnsaid piston actuating a movable elei'rtrode to establish an electriccontact with an adjustable contact member whereby a spark is producedbetween said movable electrode and a stationai' electrode. said cont tmember being manually operable whereby the spark can be advanced orretarded.

P till turther objects oi my invention or to provide means controlled bythe pressure in the combustion chamber said means being interposed inthe ignition circuit so that said circuit remains open until said meansare actuated by the pressure generated in the combustion chamber tooperate said means and complete the ignition ele tric circuit.

Still further objects of my invention are to provide adjusting meanswhereby said timing and ignition system can be regulated to properlyperform the intended functions.

With the foregoing and other objects in view my invention consists incertain novel features of construction and arrangement of partshereinafter more fully described and claimed and set forth in theaccompanying drawings, in which i i F igure 1 is a top View of the sparkplug and its openltinn connections.

Figure 1% is a vertical cross section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 'l.

Figure 4. is a horizontal cross section taken on the line 44; of Figure2.

Figure A is a vertical cross section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure l.

Figure 6 is a horizontal cross section taken on the line ll-6 of Figure5.

Figure T is a top view of a series of modified forms of plug; andconnections therefor.

Figure 8 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is vertical cross section tulren n the line 9 B of Figure 7.

Figure '10 is a horizontal section taken on the line 7 1 O 10 of Figure9.

Re erring by numerals to the accompanynzr drawings. 10 indicates a sparkpluir. the ower end ml? which is threaded tor emue.- ment with aninternally threaded seat 'l'o iurvl in the rlinder head of an internombustion engine. said plus! being provided with an axial opening 11threaded at the upper and. as indicated at 12, and ba ing a reducedlower end to form an annular eat 14.

nuqly fitt n'r in this opening. is a tubular insulator l5 andlongitudinally disposed therein is a rod 16 which serves as one of theelectrodes. The lower end of insulator tube 15 has a reduced annulus toform an annular shoulder '15 which s de igned to rest upon the annularseat 14. The upper end of tube 15 which projects upwardly from plug '10is of reduced diameter to form a circular shoulder or abutment 15ao'ainst which is designed to bear the th eaded ower end of a tubularmember 17. This tubular member is screw seated in the threaded upper end12 of the opening ll and holds tube 15 in position in plug 10. The upperend of rod 16 extends upwardly past tubular member 17 and is threaded toreceive bindinn screws 18 adapted to receiye the one terminal of a hightension coil. The lower one of binding screws 18 rests on the upper endof a cap piece 19 formed of insulating Ill! umteriul and hearing;again-ii the upper mul of sleeve [T therehy lurking mill rllklYl inluisll'ilt n 7 If tlesireth suitable cement win he used to Ml'lll't rod16 in insulator tube niul the latter can he fietflll'ttil in position inplug ll! in a similar manner.

Longitudiunlly (llSPUFIPtl in epzirli plug ll ziml parallel \rlth axialopening ll is an opening :21) in which is nrrnngretl n l'cul 2| nhiehacts as the other electrode, The upper portion of opening 2" is'lurnieil of larger rlilithetbr in order to neeninninrlnte a spring 29,the lower end oi Whirl: hears n gliinst ti eolldl' :21 formed on rotl 2iutul the upper eml engages the lower entl of n sleere which is slippedon rod 21. A van 2-l through Wlllh the upper (31](l of saitl roril 21pftijcts, is rhrovahly held in position on the lug" lllnntl its lowerentl projects into (Sphih E20, nilrl eooperatee with sleeve 23 tn ho din position eultt-lhle peeking material and tllils prevent escape ofga5es through the upper end of opening; 20. This ujfipi' entlot rod 531le luilmtls H predetermined distance below a yielding; member 25 carriedby the arm till whirh in fixed t6 hori'znt'llj (li'slposed roehing: elmt1 2?. the latter bein jolirnul'eil in euitnhle hearings .38. Allilislillrtin}: hlnrl-z "2!? in tixml in any suitahle manner to the upperend of plug lll and buppnl't bearing i in position. The iwking shaft 2?ean he i' i-l'l(t'll in it: hearings by ineilh of an arm eeeurell at oneend to said Shaft and having :1 eon neeti'oll ill at its free end\vllieh eonne tion eitende towards the l fl Sllll Ofllll null iseminetrietl it) any suitable means so that it run he manually Opraljd.

The lo er end of rod 21 extenflu tl!)\fll \Yill'llly n'St the lowr entl0i plug: 'lll into the coin tvstion chafnbi and in 'n'oriileil will: :1collar or" nhutment portioii I32 ilem gnecl to he engaged hy the ph l1ll thir in}: its pvt-(ml mnvemont. \rlierehy will rml ll i5 mm'e'tlupwardly until i l upper end 21" enga'g and establishes elerllie eontart with the fi'ielrlingf meinller i5.

Carried hy the i'nSnlating hloek il :nul insulated from eleetrotlw l6and :21 in n eoulnet lil llllli el" 3 1- lurin :1 himliny HtE'PW $5.This i'nn t'et nien'rh'er H is in the plane of movement '01 :1 plun er3th the upper end 31' End t-ltrhy form a ehnnil' 7r unit ol' housing 37.The end of nipple 37" in threiulml Elllll engages u threaded open iu orp-diaengemug 42 formed in one eitho1 plu ll) znul extendinglongitiulinnil'g through the lower enal of will plug so its to formtflllllllllllltiillitlll when the plug lll is HCI'GlYQtl in place in thecylinder henll oi' the engine between the eonihustion eh:lln her andehnniher 1 nl' housing 3?. The loner eml of housing 37 in Welernhlyt'lUSU-ll h a removable phi li tlllil the upper esul o!" Hflill housingin eloee l h plug l5 whieh in upertnrerl tn ziei'onnnoilate the uppererul o'l' plunger 73th li'zi'erpisefl helvcee n plug ql-f, znul piston38 an expzmeien spring Hi hirl: tenrle to hold plunger 36 out ol' enmigeiuent with eontnet member $34.

in the Operation ot rm timing aunl ignition eynlenl. one terminal of nl'inttery in (Ofil'iPttOtl to hi'nrling serer-r i 5 and the upfroeitieterminal in eonneetetl t0 the rot-king: hn'll 2T. \"rni Elli it: thenoperntecl to pneitiou riehlin g i'neml er the proper clistnnee ll'iJllthe upper eiul 21 ol rod 2]. During the (tll l tfHP FlOH mrnlre of thepiston et the "wine, the pre: MIN ereute'l 03' the eonipres on ol themuuhnetilile genes: in the eonr huetion hamher will he emnmuuientedthrough iiiisrltlyft Wflj 1-2 to ehmnher l ransiny; piston 38 in moreupe'nrilly against the inlluenlot' git-inn." t; :nul Ming plunger .f-llin eontm-i \iitla c-ontnct nielnher ll: thus eleetrtuh- 21 ill heehu'tirieally rn'nnec'tell to that terminal which is eeenreal hf. hind--ing eerew ir'l. At the proper time. just lL't tore the eoinpletion 01the ('Ufllfflihtlnli stint-lie, piston l trill (IlQzlgP the lower enlloi elertrmle 2'3 niul more it npwnnllv so that its upper enrl :51 willrnrue in eontnet with member so that the eleetrie eirenit will heeonipleleil. the eurrent traveling from hiniling eerew i1. tn plungerIll). then through homing! 1%? and phi; ill to eleetrorle Bl nrulthrough men li r 27 arm 26, shall 27. to the other leri'r inul i thehnlterv immediately upon f'fllllfltl ol' nieruher 12$ in the uppeserulil in rotl 221. H spark will he proclueeil hetween the lnn'er entl ofeleetruth In nnil the lower portion of roll 2t hr eoil whieh isinelurlwl in will hntterx; VlH'll l :i'nll hue one evil of ital higrhtemioii eirrnil onneeletl to the l'llll lll fj t l'Tl Vi'I l While theother enrl is grounded in the usual manner. tau-tin a? the ronihuetihleeha 5- h heen l'l P'l j" the 551]):1i'li, IUv'l 531 will, nrler influe ewr ng :35, more rlm'vnivurilly iliwonnwtilu," lt upper entl 21" fromineinher 2 Pieton 3% ill return to ite normal position under theintlnenee o'l' sprii'ig l6. thereby disengaging plunger ill, from mntactm'emh'er 34'. lhn-ing the ex.- llilllfit sltrolte crf the piston saidpisten will operate eleetrotle or 'rntl 21 to engage mern' ber 25 but nospark wiil he prorlutetl in View of the ta ctthait pitbn 38 has not beenill] Hill

escape of gas moved to bring ilunger R6 in engagement with contactmember 34, said piston 38 being" operable only by the pressure createdby compressing the combustible gases.

Housing 37 is provided with a suitable aperture 37* whereby oil can heintroduced into said housing which aperture will serve also as a rentfor conm-cting the upper portion of said housing with the atmosphere Asimilar opening 20* is formed in the upper portion of plugJO to permitadmission of oil into opening 20 and is closed by a plug 20. r

In the timing and ignition system just described, a separate coil has tohe provided for each plug. in the modified form shown in Figures 7 to10. a singl coil is provided for a series of spark plugs, an auxiliaryset of contacts being arranged for that purpose;

In the' modified form. the plunger 36 is threaded and provided with aninsulating cap 47 having an outer iretallic jacket 48. Engaging thismetallic jacket or member 48 is contact 49 carried by the lower end ofrod 50 which passes upwardly through and is secured to the insulatingblock 29. 2A binding screw 51 is arranged on the pro jecting end of rod50 and is designed to engage suitable electrical connection leading fromone terminal of the high tension circuit.

When the combustible gases are com pressed in the combustion chamber,piston 38 is operated ;to raise plunger 36 so that metallic member 48engages the contact 34, whereby electric connection established betweenbinding); screws 35 and 5] through rod 50. contact arm 49, cap 48, andcontact 34. Binding screw 35 is electrically connected to a bindingscrew 18 carried by the upper end of electrode '16 and binding screw 51has connected to it one terminal of the high tension circuit of thecoil, the other terminal thereon being grounr'leid to the engine in theusual manner. Thus when member 48 is moved into contact 534 by thepressure in combustion chamber operating piston 38. a spark will beproduced between the elec trodes l6 and Bi. If desired, piston 88 can beprovided with a piston ring; 52 in order to form a fluid tight joint andprevent the e past said pie-tr m.

In Figures 1 to G, plunger 5" controls the battery circuit. iflltlcircuit ha ing interposwbtherein a coil in he us al. manner. One of theterminallol' mud a ticrr ir nit is connected to binding: l 'iij'w a.while the other terminal is ronucrleil l rmaking shaft 27 and oneterminal of lhe high tension cir cuil, of said coil is connected tobinding screw 18. while the other is grounded to the engine. Thus thel'iatlery circuit is normally held open by plunger 36 and is closed whenplunger 36 engages contact ll and electrode 21 is moved into contactwith member 25,

said electrode 21 and plunger 36 being electrically connected to eachother by virtue of the fact that they are both mounted on the metallicplug 10, consequently a separate coil is required for each plug l0.

in Figures 7 to 10, one of the tcrn'iinals of the battery circuit isgrounded to the engrine and the other terminal is connected to rockingshaft 27.

One terminal of the high tension circuit of the coil, which coil isinterposed in said battery circuit in the usual manner, is connected tobinding screw 51, while the other terminal is grounded to the engine.Thus the battery circuit is controlled by the mow able electrode 21 andthe high tension circuit s controlled by contact member 48 carried onthe upper end of plunger 36.

To retard the spark, arm 3 is operated to more member 25 away from theupper end 21" of the electrode 21, thereby increasing the spacetraversed by said electrode before said electrode establishes electricalcontact with member 25. To advance the spark, arm 30 is operated tobring member 25 closer to the upper end 21 and thus reduce the distancetherebetween. Consequently the advancing orretarding of the spark, aswell as the timing. is accomplished through the cooperation of electrode21 and member 25 and the production of the spark is controlled throughthe cooperation of conta ts 34 and #54? with the pressure operatedplungers ll and 36 A timing and ignition system constructed according tomy invention is accurate and efficient in operation, the timing beingaccomplished by the movement of the piston while the electric circuit iscontrolled by the pressure created in the combustion chamber so that noignition will take pla e except upon the compression of the combustiblegases in the coml'uistion chamber and where a series 0'[ combustionchambers is used. the ignition of each combustion chamber is routrolledsolely by the pressure in said conibnstion chamber and is not affectedby the remaining combustion chambers.

I claim:

1; in a timing and ignition system for internal combustion engines, anignition circuit, a pair of electrodes in saiil circuit, one of saidelectrodes being; UPEId DlB by the pie ton of said engine to completesaid ignition ircuit, and a Conta member ontrolling: said ignitionircuit and operable by the pressure created by compression of lhe comustible gases in the ombustion lmuilnu of said engine.

In a timing and ignition system {or i ternal combustion engines. anadjustable contact member, a pair of electrodes, one of which isoperable by the piston of the en nine to establish contact with saidcontact member, electrical connections between the adjustable cont-actmember and the other one 01 said electrodes, and an auxiliary Contactmember [or controlling i-iaid electrical con: nections and operable bypressure in the combustion chamber of said engine.

3. In a inning and ignition system for internal combustion engines, a.stationary elec trode, a niox'aljile electrode, a contact member:nljustnble relative to said movable eleo trode. suid mmable electrodebeing adapted to form electrical contact therewith in synchron sm withthe movement of the piston of said engine, the stationary contactmomber. and a movable contact monber adapted to be uctuaied by thepressure in the oombustion haniber of said engine to engage saidstationery member wherelrr the electric circuit between said electrodesis completed.

-i. 1n n timing and ignition system for internal combustion engines, anignition circuit including a pair of electrodes one of which is adaptedto be actuated by the piston of the engine with which said system isassociated. and a contact member for controlling said circuit. seidcontact member being operable by the pressure generated byC(liliPlQSriHg the oomluistible gases in the combustion chamber of saidengine.

5. In a timing and ignition system for internal comlnistion engines. anignition circuit including a pair of electrodes one of which is adaptedto be actuated bythepisto-n of the engine with which said system isassociated. a contact member adapted to form contact with said movableelectrode and adjustable relatim thereto, and an auxiliary contactmember adapted to complete said ignition circuit when the combustiblegases in the lKullljlll-itiun chambcr of said engine areL'l'ill'lPl'it't-rifll to a predetermined degree.

6. An electric ignite]? for internal combos tion engines con'iprising apair of electrodes, electrical connection therefor. adjustable contact,means in said electrical connection, one of said electrodes beingoperable by the piston in the engine to electrically engage saidadiustable menns. normally disengaged contact members for controlligsaid eleei triral connections. a housing having communication with thecombustion chamber of mid engine, and means movably mounted in said housng and adapted to be actuated by the compression in said combustionchamber to engage said contact members whereby said electrodes becomeenergized.

7. In a timing and ignition system for internal combustion engines, aplug adapted to be screw-seated in the cylinder head, a pair ofelectrodes arranged therein. an electric circuit for said electrodes, ahousing fixedto said plug and communicati11; there through with thecombustion chamber of said engine, a pair of contact members inieriposed in said circuit and mounted exteriorly on said housing, a pistonmovably mounted in said housing and operable by the n'essure created .inthe combustion chamber by compreSsing-the combustiblegases. and acontact member carried by said piston and adapted when said piston isoperated to engage said contact members and close said circuit.

8. In a timing and ignition system for internal combustion engines, aplug adapted to have its lower end secured to the cylinder head of saidengine, a pair of electrodes mounted theiein, anele'ctric circuittherefor, a housing supported enteriorly on said plug and havingcommunication with the engine combustion chamber, a piston movablymounted in said housing. contact member mounted on the upper end of saidplug an interposed in said electric circuit and normally disengaged fromeach other, and means operable by Sliid;1)lSlL011 and adapted toin'terengage Said contact members.

9. in an ignition system for internal combustion engines, an ignitioncircuit including a pair of? electrodes, one of which is operable by thepiston of said engine, and means interposed in said circuit and adaptedto be engaged by said movable'electrod'e to com plete said circuit.

10. In an ignition system for internal com! bnstion engines, an ignitioncircuit including apair-of electrodes, one of which is operable by thepiston of said engine, and means interposed in said circuit and adaptedto be engaged by said movable electrode to com plete said circuit, saidmeans being. manually operable to advance orretard the spark.

In'testimony whereof I hereunto allix my signature this 3rd-day ofilkugust, 1921.

WILLIAM P. BREWSTER.

